Reproducing apparatus and reproducing method

Abstract

A method for displaying index data corresponding to contents data recorded on a recording medium, the method comprising: retrieving the index data from the recording medium: displaying the index data retrieved from the recording medium and a plurality of media related information items of different media formats, the index data displayed in an index data region and the plurality of media related information items displayed in a media type selection region, wherein when a media related information item from the plurality of media related information item is selected, index data corresponding to the selected media related information item is displayed.

1. A displaying method for displaying one or more index pictures corresponding to contents data recorded on a plurality of recording media sources mounted on a reproducing apparatus, the displaying method comprising:
 retrieving the contents from said plurality of recording media sources; 
 generating the index pictures from the retrieved contents, 
 wherein, when sizes of said index pictures are different, a size of each of said index pictures is converted to a common picture frame size for simultaneous display on one screen; 
 displaying said index pictures and a text description of contents, 
 wherein the index picture corresponding to an audio disc is jacket picture data, 
 wherein an index picture corresponding to a video disc is a scene from a video content recorded on the video disc, 
 wherein said index pictures are displayed in an index data region, media types of the retrieved contents are displayed in a media type selection region, and recording media sources of the retrieved contents are displayed in a recording media sources selection region, the media type selection region and the recording media sources selection region belong to a selection region, 
 wherein when a media type in the media type selection region is selected, all the index pictures and text description of retrieved contents of the selected media type are displayed, 
 wherein when a recording media source in the recording media sources selection region is selected, all the index pictures and text description of contents retrieved from the selected recording media source are displayed, 
 wherein an all-folder button for browsing index pictures of contents retrieved of all recording media types is included in the selection region, and 
 wherein when the all-folder button in the media type selection region is selected, index pictures and text description of retrieved contents of all recording media types from all recording media sources are displayed together. 
 
     
     
       2. The displaying method of  claim 1 , wherein said text description includes at least a title data. 
     
     
       3. The displaying method of  claim 2 , wherein said index pictures are generated from a picture frame of the contents data recorded on said plurality of recording media sources. 
     
     
       4. The displaying method of  claim 3 , wherein said index pictures are generated so that pictures of different sizes are converted into pictures of same frame size. 
     
     
       5. The displaying method of  claim 4 , wherein at least one index picture is arranged in one direction on a display device. 
     
     
       6. A reproducing apparatus, including a hardware element, for receiving contents data from a plurality of recording media sources mounted on the reproducing apparatus, the reproducing apparatus comprising:
 index picture generating means for retrieving content data from each recording medium of said plurality of recording media sources and generating index pictures from the retrieved content data, 
 wherein, when sizes of said index pictures are different, a size of each of said index pictures is converted to a common picture frame size for simultaneous display on one screen; 
 displaying means for displaying said index pictures and a text description of contents, 
 wherein the index picture corresponding to an audio disc is jacket picture data, 
 wherein an index picture corresponding to a video disc is a scene from a video content recorded on the video disc, 
 wherein said index pictures are displayed in an index data region, media types of the retrieved contents are displayed in a media type selection region, and recording media sources of the retrieved contents are displayed in a recording media sources selection region, the media type selection region and the recording media sources selection region belong to a selection region, 
 wherein when a media type in the media type selection region is selected, all the index pictures and text description of retrieved contents of the selected media type are displayed, 
 wherein when a recording media source in the recording media sources selection region is selected, all the index pictures and text description of contents retrieved from the selected recording media source are displayed, 
 wherein when a media related information item from said plurality of media related information items is selected, index pictures corresponding to the selected media related information item is displayed, 
 wherein an all-folder button for browsing index pictures of contents retrieved of all recording media types is included in the selection region, and 
 wherein when the all-folder button in the media type selection region is selected, index pictures and text description of retrieved contents of all recording media types from all recording media sources are displayed together. 
 
     
     
       7. The reproducing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said text description includes at least a title data. 
     
     
       8. The reproducing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said index picture generating means generates an index picture from a picture frame of the contents data recorded on said plurality of recording media sources mounted on a reproducing apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The reproducing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said index picture generating means generates said index picture so that pictures of different sizes are converted into pictures of same frame size. 
     
     
       10. The reproducing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one index picture generated by said index picture generating means is arranged in one direction on a display device. 
     
     
       11. A graphical user interface accessible to a user suitable for receiving user-supplied inputs that facilitate receipt of contents data from a plurality of recording media sources, utilizing a processor, mounted on said reproducing apparatus, comprising:
 an index picture data generator for retrieving content data from plurality of recording media sources of said plurality of recording media based on said user-supplied inputs and generating index pictures from the content data, 
 wherein, when sizes of said index pictures are different, a size of each of said index pictures is converted to a common picture frame size for simultaneous display on one screen; 
 a display driver to display said index pictures and a text description of contents, 
 wherein the index picture corresponding to an audio disc is jacket picture data, 
 wherein an index picture corresponding to a video disc is a scene from a video content recorded on the video disc, 
 wherein said index pictures are displayed in an index data region, media types of the retrieved contents are displayed in a media type selection region, and recording media sources of the retrieved contents are displayed in a recording media sources selection region, the media type selection region and the recording media sources selection region belong to a selection region, 
 wherein when a media type in the media type selection region is selected, all the index pictures and text description of retrieved contents of the selected media type are displayed, 
 wherein when a recording media source in the recording media sources selection region is selected, all the index pictures and text description of contents retrieved from the selected recording media source are displayed, 
 wherein an all-folder button for browsing index pictures of contents retrieved of all recording media types is included in the selection region, and 
 wherein when the all-folder button in the media type selection region is selected, index pictures and text description of retrieved contents of all recording media types from all recording media sources are displayed together. 
 
     
     
       12. The graphical user interface of  claim 11 , wherein text description include at least a title data. 
     
     
       13. The graphical user interface of  claim 12 , wherein said index picture data generator generates said one or more index pictures from a picture frame of the contents data recorded on said plurality of recording media sources. 
     
     
       14. The graphical user interface of  claim 13 , wherein said index picture data generator generates said one or more index pictures so that pictures of different sizes are converted into pictures of same frame size. 
     
     
       15. The graphical user interface of  claim 14 , wherein at least one index picture generated by said index picture data generator is arranged in one direction on a display device by said display driver. 
     
     
       16. A displaying method for displaying one or more index pictures corresponding to content data recorded on a plurality of recording media sources of different types mounted on a reproducing apparatus, the displaying method comprising:
 retrieving the content from said plurality of recording media sources; 
 generating the index pictures from the retrieved content; 
 wherein, when sizes of the said index pictures are different, a size of each of the index pictures is converted to a common picture frame size for simultaneous display on one screen; 
 displaying said index pictures and a text description of contents, 
 wherein the index picture corresponding to an audio disc is jacket picture data, 
 wherein an index picture corresponding to a video disc is a scene from a video content recorded on the video disc.